Medicine cabinet



Aug. 26, 1952 s pso 2,608,458

MEDICINE CABINET Filed Sept. 11, 1946 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET l 1 2 P. F. SIMPSON 2,603,453

' gamma CABINET Filed Sept. 11, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 Pa ull Simpson, Washington,

The Autoyre Company, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 11, 1946, Serial Naesazr i e Claims; (O1. 312+329) This inventionrelates to cabinets formed of sheet metal, more particularly to sheet metal medicine cabinets adapted either for wall mounting orflush mounting, and the invention has for anobject the provision of low-cost medicine cabinet structures which are attractive in appearance and are of rugged construction.

Various types' cf medicine cabinets constructed either in whole. or in part. of wood or sheet metal and including mirror doors have heretofore been proposed and certainfof such prior structures have been largely satisfactory for the purposes intended in so far as-appearance and utility are concerned. Such satisfactory medicine cabinet constructions, however, have heretofore been available only at excessively high prices, and prior attempts to reduce the cost of such cabinets have resulted either in flimsy and unsatisfactory mechanical constructions orin an unattractive appearance.

The present demand for so-called low cost housing of a type which maintains the conveniences and attractiveness of higher cost housing units has necessitated the provision of various types of fixtures, includingmedicine cabinets, of a type heretofore unavailable, and accordingly it is a further object of thisinvention to provide a medicine cabinet having the appearance of an expensive unit but whichmay be manufactured in large quantities at low cost and which will be of a strong and rugged construction.

In carrying out the invention in one form I provide a sheet metal body portion including a rear wall from which; extend top and bottom walls respectively terminating-at their forward edges in upwardly andrdownwardly extending vertical flanges respectively, the vertical flanges terminating in rearwardly extending flanges spaced from the top andbottom walls. Also extending forwardly from the rear wall are side walls which project beyond the vertical flanges of the top and bottom walls and terminate in rearwardly curved .flanges forming vertically extending hollow posts on opposite sides of the opening defined by the top, bottom and side walls. i

A door is hingedly disposed between the hollow posts and supported onthe vertical flanges with the outer surface of the door substantially fiush with the forward edges of the posts and the inner surface of .the door overlying the vertical flanges when the door is in closed position. More specifically, the height of the vertical posts exceeds the distancebetween the top and bottom walls by the height of the vertically extending Conn, assignor to Incorporated, Oakville,

flanges, and the rearwardly extending flanges associated with the top and bottom walls include integral end portions shaped to conform to the cross section of the vertical posts so as to overlie the upper and lower ends of these posts. One ofthe vertical flanges associated with the top and bottom walls of the cabinet body portion is providedwith a slot extending transversely of the front face of the cabinet, anda stop member hingedly connected to the inner surface of the door extends through and is slidable along the slot during opening and closing movement Oflthe door, the stop member having a portion thereon engageable with one end of the slot to limit the opening movement of the door.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference will now be had to the drawings inwhich: 7

r Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a medicine cabinet construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet showninFig.1; f" y Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing one upper corner of the cabineton a somewhat larger scale, a portion of the cabinet and the door being broken away in order "to show the hinge construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cabinet with the door in partially open position so as to illustrate stop means associated with the door;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the door;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 1'-'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which the body portion of the medicine cabinet shown in Fig. 1 may be formed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view on a somewhat smaller scaleshowing another form of blank from which the side walls and posts of the medicine cabinet constituting another embodiment of the invention may be formed;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a blank for forming the back wall and the top and bottom walls of the cabinet construction utilizing the blankof Fig.9; and i Fig-1115311 exploded perspective view showing: the cabinet body construction formed from the blanks illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a medicine cabinet I2 comprising a body por-- tion including a rear wall l3 from which extend ascents top and bottom walls l4 and I5 each of which terminates in vertically extending flanges I6 and i! respectively. Extending rearwardly from the vertical flanges I6 and H are suitable flanges l8 and iii, respectively, which extend substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls I4 and I5 in spaced relation thereto, each of the flanges E8 and it having suitably shaped end portions 26 the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter, and each of the flanges l8 and H) terminates in a flange 2| and 22, respectively, which latter flanges respectively extend downwardly and upwardlly toward the top and bottom walls, as shown best in Fig. 5 in connection with the flange 2| at the'top of the cabinet.

Likewise extending forwardly from the rear wall l3 are the side walls 23, which side walls extend forwardly beyond the front edges of the top and bottom walls and terminate in rearwardly curved flanges so as to form vertical hollow posts 24 at each side of the opening defined by the top, bottom and side walls of the cabinet. The portions of the side walls which form the hollow posts 2% are of greater height that the distance between the top and bottom walls M and I5 by a distance equal'to the height ofthe vertical flanges I6 and I1, so that the end portions of the rearwardly extending flanges l8 and |9 overlie and engage the top and bottom edges of the post 24, each of these top and bottom edges being provided with suitable tabs which may be bent inwardly and welded to the portions 20 on the flanges l8 and H! so as to form a rigid structure. As shown in Fig. 8, the top wall M is provided at its opposite ends with flanges 26 which may be bent downwardly to engage in inner surfaces of the side walls 23 and which may be welded to the side walls when the cabinet body is formed. Likewise, the bottom edge of each of the side walls 23 is provided with a flange 21 which may be turned inwardly to engage the undersurface of the bottom wall I5 and may be welded thereto. Suitable additional tabs 28 formed adjacent the upper and lower ends of the portions 24 which form the vertical posts are provided, which tabs 28 are adapted to be bent inwardly behind the flanges l6 and IT and welded thereto, as shown best in Fig. 8, so as further to strengthen the body portion of the cabinet. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a sheet metal body portion for the cabinet which may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal by means of simple bending and forming operations, and by means of a few simple welding operations a strong and rugged cabinet body portion having an attractive appearance is obtained.

Although various types -of door structures may be provided I preferably provide a mirror t pe of door structure 39 which comprises a main frame portion and a pair of cooperating upper and lower cap members. The main frame portion of the door is formed of sheet metal and comprises a rear wall 3| which terminates at its opposite vertical edges in a forwardly extending flange 32, the forward edge of which terminates in an inwardly extending flange 33. The mirror 34 (Fig. 5') is adapted to be positioned in front of the main frame within the flanges 32 and 33,. suitable spacing members being provided so as to hold the front surface of the mirror at the two vertical edges thereof in contact with the front flanges 33, and suitable U-shaped cap members 35 may then be sn pped into position at the upper and lower ends of the main frame to complete the door structure. Each of the cap members 35 includes a front flange 36 which engages the front surface of the mirror 34 and'a rear flange 31, which is provided with suitable longitudinal corrugations 33 cooperating with similar corrugations 39 in the rear wall 3| of the main frame member to lock the cap members in position on the upper and lower edges of the door.

It will be observed that the door structure thus provided is of suflicient height to overlie the vertical flanges l6 and ll of the cabinet body when the door is in its closed position and the front face of the door lies substantially flush with the front edges of the vertical posts it so that the door is nested therebetween.

In order to support the door 3|) for swinging movement with respect to the cabinet body, suitable hinge means are provided for supporting the deer on the upper and lower flanges l6 and i1 while substantially concealing the hinges. As shown best in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the hinge structure comprises a first hinge member 40 which extends along the rear face of the flange Hi and through a suitable aperture ll in this flange, the extending end of the strip 451 terminating in a hinge loop 42. The second hinge member 43 extends along the inner surface of the door frame 3| and terminates in a hingeloop similar to the hinge loop Q2. The rear wall 3| of the door frame and the end flange 32 at the hinge side of the door are provided with an aperture 44 through which the strip 49 and the hinge loop 42 may 6X? tend so as ,to be brought into alignment with the loop on the hinge member 43, the two loops accommodating a suitable hinge pin 45 whereby the door 30 is supported in swinging relation, the upper and lower hinge constructions being substantially identical and only the upper hinge construction being shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In order to limit the swinging movement of the doorfrom the closed position shown in Figs. '1 to 4, inclusive, a combined door closing and stop means is provided, which means is shown best in Figs. 5 and '7. The detailed construction of this combined closing and stop means, in so far'as its closing function is concerned, forms no part of the present invention but is described and brcad- 1y claimed in the copending application of Roy S. Sanford and Paul F. Simpson Serial No. 290,619, filed December 13, 1950 and entitled Door Closure, said copendingapplication-being a continuation of application Serial No. 696,232 filed September 11, 1946, now abandoned. As shown best in Figs. 5 and '7, this closer and stop means consists of a link 46 one end of which extends through a suitable slot 41 in the vertical flange I6 of the cabinet'body, and terminates in an enlarged end portion 43 disposed rearwardly of the flange It. At its oppositeend the link 46 is provided with a loop lflfor receiving a pin 50 which is confined between suitable'indentations 5| and 52 in the rear wall3| of the door frame and the rear flange 3'! of the cap 35 respectively. In order to assemble the linkdfi in proper relation tothe cabinet 7 .body and the door,' the enlarged end 53 of the link 46 is first inserted through the slot t? by turning the link approximately from the position shown in Fig. 5. The loop 49 on the opposite end of the link' is then inserted through the aperture 53 in theflange 31 of the door cap 35 and the pin 50 inserted through the loop ca. The pintfil is then positioned in the indentation 52 and the cap. 35 placed in'position over the upper end of the door and forced downwardly, the pin moving along the indentation 5i in the rear wall 3| of the door frame. The assembled position of the pin 50 relative to the link 46 and thefdoor structure is shown best in Fig. 7:

It will be observed that as the door swings between its open andclosed positions the enlarged end 48 of the link moves within the housing formed by the flanges l6, l8 and 21 (Fig. and the body of the link 46 moves through the slot 41. As the door approaches its outermost position the enlarged end 48 thereof approaches the end of the slot 4! and engagement of this enlarged end 48 with the end of the slot determines the maximum open position of the door.

Although the one-piece construction of the cabinet body illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, is preferable from many standpoints, it will be understood that similarly constructed and shaped cabinet bodies may be formed from two or more sheet metal blanks, and in Figs. 9, l0 and 11 a modified construction is shown wherein the blank 55 of Fig. 9, when shaped and slit as shown therein, may be formed to provide the front frame structure and side walls of the cabinet as shown best in Fig. 11. Thus the blank 55includes the side wall portions 56 terminating in inwardly extending flanges 51 at the rear ends thereof and having similar inwardly extending flanges 58 at the bottom edges. At the front edge of each side Wall 56 is a rearwardly curved flange which forms the hollow vertical posts 59, the upper and lower ends of which are closed by a rearwardly extending flange 60, the forward end of which is notched, as shown, and respectively provided with upwardly and downwardly extending flanges 6|. Cooperating with the portion of the cabinet body formed from the blank 55 is a cabinet portion formed from the blank 62 shown in Fig. 10. This blank includes a rear wall portion 63 from which extend top and bottom wall portions 64 and 65 respectively, each of which terminates in a vertically extending flange B6 and 61, the top wall 64 having downwardly extending end flanges 68 as shown. When the blank 62 is formed as shown in Fig. 11, it may be assembled with the portion formed from the blank 55 so as to form a cabinet body structure embodying the present invention. When so assembled the flanges 66 and 61 engage the rear surfaces of the vertically extending flanges 6i and may be welded thereto, the flanges 51 on the side walls 56 similarly engaging and being welded to the rear wall 63. Likewise, the flanges 68 engage the inner surface of the side walls 56 at the upper ends thereof and the flanges 58 engage the undersurface of the bottom wall 65.

Upon completion of the various welding operations indicated a strong and rugged cabinet body portion is obtained having the same general configuration as the one-piece body portion formed from the blank of Fig. 8. Although the required slots and apertures in the vertical flanges 6! of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, have not been illustrated, it will be apparent that these flanges may be formed in the same manner as the vertical flanges l 6 and I! to provide for proper hinging of a door relative to the cabinet body and for association therewith of the stop means heretofore explained in connection with Fig. 5.

It will likewise be understood that the rear wall in either embodiment of the invention may be provided with suitable apertures to permit hanging of the cabinet body on the wall when wall mounting of the cabinet is desired, and the side walls in each case may be provided with suitable projections for supporting glass or similar shelves thereon. w

While I have shown particular embodiments of my'inventionyit will be understood of course that I do. notwish to be limitedthereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate byithe' appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet metal medicine cabinet comprising a rear wall, a top wall extendingforwardly from said rear wall and terminating in an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange terminating in a first rearwardly extending flange spaced from said top wall, a bottom wall'extending forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in a downwardly extending flange,said down wardly extending flange terminating in a second rearwardly extending flange spaced from said bottom wall, side walls extending forwardly from saidrear wall and beyond said upwardly and downwardly extending flanges of said top and bottom walls, said side walls terminating in outwardly andrearwardly extending flanges forming vertically extending posts on opposite sides of the opening defined by said top, bottom and side walls, a door hingedly supported between said hollow posts with the outer surface of said door substantially flush with the forward edges of said posts when said door is in closed position, and portions integral with andrespectively coplanar with said firstand second rearwardly extending flanges secured to, and closing. the ends of said posts.

2. A sheet metal medicine cabinet comprising a rear wall, a top wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and, terminating in an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange terminating, in a rearwardly extending flange spaced from said top wall, a bottom: wall extending forwardly from saidrear'wall and terminating in a downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending flange terminating in a rearwardly extending flange spaced from said bottom wall, and side walls, extending forwardly from said rear wall and beyond said upwardly and downwardly extending flanges. of said top and bottom walls, said side walls terminating in outwardly and rearwardly extending flanges form ing vertically extending hollow posts on opposite sides of the opening defined by said top, bottom and side walls, the height of said posts exceeding the distance between said top and bottom walls by the height of said upwardly and downwardly extending flanges, said rearwardly extending flanges on said top and bottom walls having coplanar portions on the opposed ends thereof shaped to conform to the cross section of said posts overlying the upper and lower ends of said posts and secured thereto.

3. A one-piece sheet metal medicine cabinet formed from a single, sheet metal blank comprising a rear wall, top, bottom and side walls integral with said rear wall and extending forwardly therefrom, and flanges on the transverse edges of some of said forwardly extending walls extending at right angles thereto to overlap a surface of the adjacent walls for securement thereto to form a rigid frame, said top and bottom walls each having a flange at the forward edge thereof extending substantially vertically outward from said frame and terminating in an integral rearwardly extending flange, each of said Side walls extending forwardly of said forward edges of said top and bottom walls and having at the forward edge thereof an integral outwardly and rearwardly'extending flange'forming a vertically extending post, the height of said posts exceeding the distance between said top and bottom walls by the height of said vertically extending flanges on'said top and bottom walls, said rearwardly extending flanges on said top and bottom walls having integral end portions shaped to conform to the cross section of said posts and overlying the upper and lower ends of said posts for securement thereto. 1

i. A one-piece sheet metal cabinet formed from a single, sheet metal blank comprising a pair of parallel side walls, each of said side walls havin at the forward edge thereof an integral outwardly and rearwardly extending flange forming a vertically extending post, parallel top and bottom frame membersintegral with the forwardly extending portions of said flanges bridging said posts at the top and bottom thereof, said frame members having end portions shaped to the contour of the cross section of said posts for securement thereto to close the ends thereof, and outwardly and vertioally'extending flange members integral with said frame members in a plane spaced inwardly from the forward edge of said side walls providing a recess in the forward portion of said cabinet between said posts to receive o a cabinet door.

5. A sheet metal'medicine cabinet comprising a rear wall, a top wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange terminating in a first rearwardly extending flange spaced from said top wall, a bottom wall extend-- forwardly from said rear wall and terminating posts with the outer surface of said door subr stantially flush with the forward edges of said posts and the top and bottom thereof substantially flush with said flrst andsecond rearwardly extending flanges when said door is in closed position, and portions integral and respectively coplanar with said first and second rearwardly extending flanges secured to and closing the ends of said posts.

6. A sheet metal medicine cabinet comprising a rear wall, a top wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange terminating in a rearwardly extending flange spaced from said top wall, a bottom wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in a downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending flange terminating in a rearwardly extending flangeispaced from said bottom wall, and. a side wall extending forwardly from each side of said rear wall to a'fold line forwardly of said upwardly and downwardly extending flanges and there bent outwardly and rearwardly forming vertically extending hollow posts on opposite sides of the opening defined by said top, bottom and side walls, the height of said posts being substantiallyequal to the distance between said top and bottom rearwardly extending flanges, said flanges being integral with said side walls, and the rearwardly extending flanges on said top and bottom walls having coplanar portions on the opposite ends thereof shaped to conform to the cross sections of said posts overlying the upper and lower ends of said posts and secured thereto.

PAUL F. SIMPSON.

REEFE reens orrnn l file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS "The following references are of reeord in the a 

